design:retail - March 2018 - 52

052

→ Allegro Coffee
Roasters welcomes
shoppers with its
exclusive "High
Fidelity Espresso."

ith the purchase of Whole
Foods Market last August,
Amazon became more than
just an e-commerce retailer.
And the brand new Whole
Foods Market Lakeview in
Chicago aims to be much more
than just a grocery store-it is
a culinary destination and local gathering place. Whether
you are a foodie or just a
consumer committed to purchasing high-quality food, this
new market is more than a
place to stock up on groceries;
it's a spot to order a cup of coffee, grab a beer or sip a great glass of wine. There
even is an arcade for gamers. With 25 other stores
in the Chicagoland area, the new 75,600-sq.-ft.
Lakeview location paves the way for the future of
Whole Foods with design standards that were set as
high as the food standards.
"Lakeview is Chicago's new flagship store. It
is easy to get to from some of the fastest-growing
neighborhoods, like Logan Square," says Stacey
Landino, senior project manager of décor and
design for Whole Foods' Midwest region. "While
the location across the street was one of the original stores from the 1990s, a relocation was the right
move as we embarked on the new flagship design."
The new store is a beacon on six corners of
a unique intersection of three major streets-
Belmont, Ashland and Lincoln. A dramatic glass
atrium and enlarged lettering creates a billboard
effect with visibility of the activity inside. The
architecture and graphics announce its presence within the community, creating a landmark
that welcomes families to come explore this
food destination.
"Whole Foods has always been the future of food.
You know it is a place where you can purchase
high-quality food," Landino says. "We are always
pushing the envelope for food, so we wanted to
likewise push the envelope of design. We wanted
to create an Instagram-worthy experience."
Whole Foods collaborated with Portland, Ore.based Blend Design Co., led by owner/designer Jack
O'Connor, to bring in fun elements that express
localization and enhance the community feel. "The
project message was to create a modern destination

MARCH 2018

DESIGNRETAILONLINE.COM

for neighbors to shop, eat, gather and call their
own, a place for tastemakers," O'Connor says.
There are two main entry points to this two-story
retail experience. Foot traffic off the street can enter into the glass-encased atrium with a clear view
of Allegro Coffee Roasters, a first for Whole Foods
Market in Chicago. Allegro roasts and delivers small
batches of craft coffee to 12 Whole Foods Market
Chicago stores, including a Chicago exclusive "High
Fidelity Espresso." Customers also can enter from
the parking garage, where they are welcomed by the
Allegro coffee bar. From the roastery's concrete base
stamped with "Lakeview CH. IL." to the coffee bar's
photo mural that pays homage to local business Rose

GLOBALSHOP.ORG

Records and the music roots of Lakeview, the spaces
offer clean, simple design details with bold branded
elements that set the tone for the design experience.
Positioning the Allegro amenity at the entry points is a unique visual that warmly greets
customers and eases them into shopping mode.
There is ample seating, a place to "just be" or
gather-a decompressing zone. When customers
are ready, the escalators and elevators are easily accessible and ready to guide people to the
next stop on their shopping journey. As customers begin to orient themselves on the second level,
they are welcomed by a juice bar, a partnership
with Real Good Juice-another opportunity to

http://www.DESIGNRETAILONLINE.COM http://www.GLOBALSHOP.ORG

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of design:retail - March 2018